The Zodiac Battle Platform, entirely cast from white jade, stands two zhang high and stretches one hundred and twenty zhang in length and width. From afar, it resembles a gigantic Black Tortoise Divine Beast perched atop the peak of New Talent Peak.

At this moment, over a thousand new students participating in the grand competition have been divided into twelve teams. Each team comprises over a hundred individuals, all standing in front of the Zodiac Battle Platform, awaiting their turn.

Their entire beings exude a powerful battle intent.

After all, the rewards for the new student grand competition this time are incredibly enticing. Just by entering the top ten, one can be rewarded with a Yellow Level Middle Grade Martial Arts.

Moreover, the first place in the grand competition can receive a Yellow Level Top Grade Martial Arts and a spot as a seed student candidate.

Though a seed student candidate's status is not as high as a true seed student, it is far superior to that of an ordinary Inner Sect Disciple.

More importantly, they can challenge a seed student at any time. If they manage to defeat the opponent, they can take their place and become a new seed student.

This has been a rule in Celestial Flame Academy ever since its inception.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this new student grand competition consists of two phases: the first is a points match, and the second is an elimination match! Apart from that, using Spiritual Artifacts is prohibited in the competition; you can only use Sharp Weapons. Anyone daring to violate this rule will be severely punished," the gray-robed elder sternly announced.

Spiritual Artifacts can greatly enhance a True Qi Realm Cultivator's combat power.

Even the weakest Low Grade Spiritual Artifact possesses terrifying destructive power.

If a new student were to use a Spiritual Artifact during the competition, it would undoubtedly be extremely unfair to those without such artifacts.

Therefore, Celestial Flame Academy has long had a stipulation prohibiting the use of Spiritual Artifacts during the new student grand competition; violators not only face disqualification but also severe punishment.

"Next, we will proceed with the first phase, the points match. Each of you will participate in six matches. If you win, you earn two points; a draw nets you one point, and losing yields no points! The top ten individuals from each team based on total points will advance," the gray-robed elder continued to explain to the crowd.

"What? Each of us has to participate in six matches!"

"If we get seriously injured and lose the ability to fight during the battles, won't we be instantly eliminated?" Many new students' faces changed dramatically.

Some among them were initially hoping to pass through luck, but now, their plans have undoubtedly crumbled.

No matter how lucky you are, it's impossible to face only weaker opponents in all six consecutive matches.

If you encounter someone much stronger, there would be virtually no hope of winning.

"Alas! Only those with absolute strength can win every match. This points match will already reveal the potential of most participants."

"Indeed! It seems we can no longer hold back; we must find a way to win more matches." Many new students whispered among themselves secretly.

Rumble.

At this moment, the Zodiac Battle Platform standing before the crowd suddenly began to tremble violently.

Immediately afterward, the entire platform started separating into twelve smaller platforms.

These twelve smaller platforms still stood two zhang high but were only about ten zhang long and wide, with each platform's center engraved with a zodiac pattern.

"The first team will compete on the Rat Platform, and the second team will be on the Ox Platform, and so on," the gray-robed elder announced in a resonant voice, echoing in everyone's ears like a solemn bell.

At this moment, everyone finally understood why the Zodiac Battle Platform had zodiac patterns engraved on it; it was to facilitate the points match.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh.

Soon, twelve teachers from Celestial Flame Academy distributed tokens to the new students.

Ye Chen received a token engraved with the image of a True Dragon, with the number nine written at the bottom.

This meant he would be competing on the Dragon Map Battle Platform, and his code was number nine.

"Alright, the points match officially begins. Losing your ability to fight or falling off the platform means you've lost. Of course, if you feel you are no match for your opponent, I suggest you surrender as soon as possible, otherwise, being killed is your own fault," the gray-robed elder said gravely.

According to Celestial Flame Academy's rules, students lose a match under three circumstances.

The first is losing the ability to fight.

The second is being knocked off the platform.

The third is surrendering voluntarily.

If you are accidentally killed before you surrender, no one will advocate for you.

Hence, every participating new student should be self-aware. If you know you're no match for your opponent, persisting in combat only invites your own demise.

"Begin! When the token in your hand shines with golden light, it's your turn to go on stage." No sooner had the gray-robed elder finished speaking than the tokens in many newcomers' hands began to emit dazzling golden light.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh.

Very quickly, twenty-four new students stepped onto the twelve small platforms and started competing.

"Oh my! Isn't that Duanmu Xiong? He got on stage so quickly."

"His opponent is really unlucky! There's not a shred of a chance for victory." Many newcomers exclaimed, staring intently at a young man in black armor atop the Rat Platform.

This young man in black armor was none other than Duanmu Xiong.

"I surrender." Duanmu Xiong's opponent couldn't help but swallow hard, his eyes filled with terror. Before the battle even started, he was so scared that his legs went weak, and he quickly surrendered.

"Hmph! Worthless, not even the courage to fight me." Duanmu Xiong sneered, not even bothering to look at his opponent, and walked off the platform.

"Damn it, why are we so unlucky to be on the same platform as Duanmu Xiong? Meeting him means a certain loss." Many newcomers murmured to themselves.

It's known that Duanmu Xiong is a genius who awakened a Profound Level bloodline! Even cultivators with a Yellow Level First Grade bloodline are nothing in his eyes.

So, encountering him in the points match is simply a stroke of bad luck.

Fortunately, in this points match, every newcomer has seven times to go on stage. Even if they lose one or two matches, there's still hope to advance.

Unlike the second elimination phase, where losing a match truly means elimination.

Time flew, and soon a tea's time had passed.

Buzz.

At this moment, the token in Ye Chen's hand suddenly shone with dazzling golden light, like a glaring little sun, even somewhat hot to the touch.

"Finally, it's my turn." Ye Chen moved like a swift leopard, rushing toward the Dragon Map Battle Platform.

Moments later, Ye Chen arrived at the Dragon Map Battle Platform.

Opposite him stood a sturdy young man, holding a black battleaxe that appeared immeasurably heavy.

This black battleaxe is a Sharp Weapon, something an ordinary True Qi Realm Cultivator cannot afford.

Clearly, this young man's status is quite exceptional.

"It's Zhang Yue, the Second Young Master of Zhang Family from Nanning Prefecture. He ranked in the top three in the Nanning Prefecture's entrance examination," a new student said excitedly.

Nanning Prefecture is a Prefecture City with a similar strength to Kunzhou Prefecture.

And Zhang Yue's status is akin to Luo Xing's, the Second Young Master of the Luo Family, no wonder he possesses a Sharp Weapon.

"Look, isn't that the infamous Ye Chen who offended the Duanmu Family? He's so unlucky to face such a powerful opponent in his first match."

"Zhang Yue's cultivation has reached the Eighth Layer of the True Qi Realm, and he has awakened a Yellow Level Fourth Grade bloodline. Crushing this Ye Chen should not be difficult, right?" Many students watched Ye Chen with pitiful eyes, as if looking at a poor worm.

Though Ye Chen ranked first in Kunzhou Prefecture's entrance examination, few knew of him before heading to Celestial Flame Academy.

After all, the Celestial Flame Dynasty has a total of one hundred and eight Prefecture Cities, many stronger than Kunzhou Prefecture.

So most people's attention is on those powerful Prefecture Cities, rarely focusing on Kunzhou Prefecture.

However, since Ye Chen's adoptive father and mother were arrested by Duanmu Family's Golden Dragon Guard at Celestial Flame Academy's entrance, he quickly became famous.

Now, many new students have heard of Ye Chen.

Of course, they only know Ye Chen's name, knowing nothing about his past.

To them, a cultivator from Kunzhou Prefecture cannot be that strong, can he?

Defeating Zhang Yue, who possesses a Sharp Weapon, seems an incredibly daunting task.

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